Digital anti-counterfeiting software method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated method for digitally encoding an image using a data processor, the method comprising:
- providing a first digitized input image;
dividing the first digitized input image into a number of elemental input image segments each having an input segment length dimension and a common input segment width dimension sized so that the number of elemental input image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency;
resizing the elemental input image segments to form corresponding output image segments each having an output segment length dimension equal to the length dimension of the corresponding input segment and a common width dimension that is a function of the input segment width dimension and a scrambling factor, the output segment being resized about a lengthwise segment centerline; and
forming a first encoded output image from the output image segments, the first encoded output image being configured so that the output image segments retain a number of output image segments per inch that is equal to the number of elemental input image segments per inch and so that if the first encoded output image is printed, the first digitized input image can be discerned by viewing the printed encoded output image through a lenticular lens having the decoder lens frequency.
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Abstract
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus, as implemented by a software program on a computer system, for digitally producing counterfeit-deterring scrambled or encoded indicia images. This method and system are capable of combining a source image with a latent image so the scrambled latent image is visible only when viewed through a special decoder lens. The digital processing allows different latent images to be encoded according to different parameters. Additionally, latent images might be encoded into single component colors of an original visible image, at various angles from each other.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automated method for digitally encoding an image using a data processor, the method comprising:
- providing a first digitized input image;
dividing the first digitized input image into a number of elemental input image segments each having an input segment length dimension and a common input segment width dimension sized so that the number of elemental input image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency;
resizing the elemental input image segments to form corresponding output image segments each having an output segment length dimension equal to the length dimension of the corresponding input segment and a common width dimension that is a function of the input segment width dimension and a scrambling factor, the output segment being resized about a lengthwise segment centerline; and
forming a first encoded output image from the output image segments, the first encoded output image being configured so that the output image segments retain a number of output image segments per inch that is equal to the number of elemental input image segments per inch and so that if the first encoded output image is printed, the first digitized input image can be discerned by viewing the printed encoded output image through a lenticular lens having the decoder lens frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- providing a first digitized input image;
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9. An automated method for digitally encoding and embedding digital images into a source image using a data processor, the method comprising:
- providing a first digitized input image;
dividing the first digitized input image into a number of elemental image segments each having an input segment length dimension and an input width dimension, the number of elemental image segments being established so that the number of image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency;
assembling the elemental image segments to form an output image retaining the number of image segments per inch that is equal to or a multiple of the decoder lens frequency;
rasterizing a source image into source image segments having a rasterization frequency equal to the number of image segments per inch that is equal to or a multiple of the decoder lens frequency; and
reforming the rasterized source image segments according to a pattern of the output image to form a revised source image having the output image embedded therein. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- providing a first digitized input image;
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16. A computer-readable medium having software code stored thereon, the software code being configured to cause a computer to execute a method for digitally encoding an image, the method comprising:
- receiving a first digitized input image;
dividing the first digitized input image into a number of elemental input image segments each having an input segment length dimension and a common input segment width dimension sized so that the number of elemental input image segments per inch is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency;
resizing the elemental input image segments to form corresponding output image segments each having an out put segment length dimension equal to the length dimension of the corresponding input segment and a common width dimension that is a function of the input segment width dimension and a scrambling factor, the output segment being resized about a lengthwise segment centerline; and
forming a first encoded output image from the output image segments, the first encoded output image being configured so that the output image segments retain a number of output image segments per inch that is equal to the number of elemental input image segments per inch and so that if the first encoded output image is printed, the first digitized input image can be discerned by viewing the printed encoded output image through a lenticular lens having the decoder lens frequency. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- receiving a first digitized input image;
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20. An automated method for digitally encoding and embedding digital images into a source image using a data processor, the method comprising:
- rasterizing a source image into source image elements having a rasterization frequency that is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency, the source image elements combining to form a rasterized source image;
providing a first digitized input image; and
applying an encoding algorithm to merge the first digitized image with the rasterized source image to produce a rasterized visible image with visible image elements having the rasterization frequency that is equal to or a multiple of the decoder lens frequency and an encoded latent image embedded therein, the encoded latent image being decodable by a decoding lens configured with the decoder lens frequency so as to reveal the first digitized input image when the rasterized source image is viewed through the decoding lens. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 25)
- rasterizing a source image into source image elements having a rasterization frequency that is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency, the source image elements combining to form a rasterized source image;
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23. An automated method for digitally encoding and embedding digital images into a digital color source image using a data processor, the method comprising:
- dividing the digital color source image into a plurality of component color plates;
rasterizing a first component color plate into a first set of image elements having a first rasterization frequency that is equal to or a multiple of a first decoder lens frequency, the first set of image elements combining to form a rasterized first component color plate;
providing a first digitized input image;
applying an encoding algorithm to merge the first digitized image with the rasterized first component color plate to provide a first encoded component color plate with first plate image elements having the first rasterization frequency that is equal to or a multiple of the first decoder lens frequency and a first encoded latent image embedded therein, the first encoded latent image being decodable by a decoding lens configured with the first decoder lens frequency so as to reveal the first digitized input image when the first encoded component color plate is viewed through the first decoding lens; and
merging the first encoded component color plate with at least one of the other component color plates to form an output color image. - View Dependent Claims (24)
- dividing the digital color source image into a plurality of component color plates;
Specification